Surgical splint and reducing frame



I Nov. 5, 1935. E E, LQNGFELLOW 2,020,262

SURGICAL SPLINT AND REDUCING FRAME Filed March 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Nov. 5, 1935. E. E. LONGFELLOW SURGICAL SPLINT AND REDUCING FRAME 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 28, 1935 INVENTOR.

. ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 5, 1935 PAT ENT OFF-ICE 2,020,262 wami. SPLINT Am) REDUoING FRAME Earl E. Longfellow, Warsaw,.-.IndI,Lassignor to Harry HerschelLeiter, Warsaw, Ind. ApplicationMarch 28, 1935; Serial'No. 13,516

4 Claims. (oi. 1:28-84) This invention relates to. improvementsinsurioal splints and reducing frames for skeletal treatment offractured bones M j V One of theobjects of the invention is to provide asupporting mechanism for holding a pairoi skeletal wire orpin-supporting bows in various adjusted positions as maybe required forthe proper alinement of the fragments of the fractured bones such as thetibia andfibuia. Another object is to provide a simple expedient forconveniently and accurately establishing apposition of the fracturedbone fragments and by which extension thereof is applied. toa definiteextent. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing description.

) which theinvention is incorporated, as it appears when viewed from theside thereof;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the base-frame and bow-supporting membersand adjusting means therefor, portions being cut away; I

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of Fig. 2 on the line 33 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing an elevation of one of the bows and itsadjustable supporting means; M

Fig. 5 is a side elevation projected from Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view of one end of the bow with its pin or wireclamp.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention includesa base-frame; asuspension appliance; pin o'r wire securing bows; and adjustablebowsupporting mechanism.

Base-frame and suspension appliance The base-"frame preferably is formedof end pieces I and. 2 held definitely spaced apart by which extendremovably in the end pieces I and 2 of the base-frame. The brackets Ihave mounted thereon a superframe 5 which projects upwardly and isprovided at its lower ends with fasteners 6 that haveclamping connectionwith said brackets '4' so as to have longitudinal ad justment on saidbrackets. Also','ther'are provided slings I which are suspended betweenthe brackets [that are conveniently connected with said brackets bymeans of straps 8 for the support of an injured leg 9. The strapsareprovidedwith buckles Into permit adjustment otthe positionsof'the'slings" '1 on thebrackets as'may be desired.

Adjustable bow-supportin mechanism In the base-frame is disposed a beamconsistingo f' two'telescopic members II and I2, preferably rectangularin cross-section. The. membeii It has secured in its outer endaperforated plug Itthrough which extends a threaded tubularmember I4provided with an exterior .rec- 6' tangularcollar I5 that fits withinthe telescopic member I I so that axial turning movement of the tubularmember IE is circumvented; A cap screw It extends through the end pieceE'and is screwed into: the tubular member I4 whereby the plug 10 I3 isclamped between the collar I5 and the'end piece 2 thereby securing thetelescopic member I I and the end piece 2 together. The telescopicmember I2 projects into and fits snugly in' the telescopic member II,and its outer end projects loosely through the end piece I whichhas arectangular opening'I'I made therein'that approxi mately fits the memberi 2. By this arrangement axial rotation of the beam is prevented whilepermitting longitudinal movement of the telescopic'member I2 in theend'piece I. The outer end of the telescopic member I2 has securedtherein aperforatedplug I8 through which extends an adjusting rod I9that has threaded relation with the tubular member It, and hasscuredthereon'acollar 20 and an operating knob 2i upon opposite'sides ofthe plug I8 whereby relativelongitudinal movement of the rod withrespect to the telescopic member I2 is prevented. I Upon each of thetelescopic members II-I2 is'dispos'ed a pedestal 22--23 provided with acorresponding clamp 24 having clamp-screws 25 whereby the pedestal issecured in place on the corresponding telescopic member after havingbeen longitudinally adjusted to the desired position thereon. Eachpedestal has an upwardly ex'tendihg'thr'eaded stud 26 upon which ismountedan internally threaded hand-wheel 26' above which 'on said studis mounted for free axial and angular'movment thereon a slottedswivel-head 21 having perforated ears 28 through whichexten'dsa"clamp-screw 29 whereby when the said clamp-screw is tightenedthe corresponding swivel head is secured in adjusted position onits'stud. It will be understood that the swivelhead'iselevatedadjustably on its stud 26 by turningthe hand-wheel and is also capableof angularadjustment upon said studand is held in such adjustedpositions'fupon tightening of its clamp-screw 29. Each swivel-head 2'!has opposed jaws 30'3I spaced apartthat are secured together by" bolts32, and preferably there is provideda'clamping spring'plate 33 securedconveniently by rivets 34 to the inner face of the jaws 3|, the outerportions of which plate are pressed inwardly by thumb-screws ,35.Also,': tnerais provided in connection withsaid jaws. bearing lugs 36located respectively between their lower outer ends. j r

Pin 01' wire securing bows Between the jaws of each swivel-head isadjustably secured a pin or wire securing bow 31, preferably U-shaped,adapted to rest upon the lugs 36 and to be clamped in adjusted positionsin the swivel-head between the jaws by tightening the thumb-screwsagainst the spring-plate 33. Each how has on one of its ends anextension 38 that is movable laterally with respect thereto upon a pivot39, and is provided with an adjusting screw 40 that bears against a lug4| which projects from the corresponding end of the bow so as the screwis turned the extension is swung outwardly more or less accordingly.Upon said extension is provided a clamp-plate 42 secured by aclamp-screw 43, and indentations 44 are made in the inner face of thepivoted extension to form seats for a skeletal pin or wire 45. The otherend of said bow 31 is provided with notches 44 and clamp-plate 42'secured by a clamp-screw 43' by which is secured the skeletal pin orwire 45.

Operation laterally between the corresponding jaws 30-3I relativerotation is applied to the bone fragments more or less according toadjustment of the bows. The bows are held in their lateral adjustedpositions by tightening the screws 35 whereupon the bows are clampedfirmly in place. By adjustably turning the swivel-heads 21 the bonefragments are angularly moved into alinement so that proper appositionis effected. By tightening the clamp-screws 29 the swivel heads arethereby .held firmly on their pedestals in their adjusted positions. Bymanipulating the knob 2| the adjusting rod is turned whereupon thetelescopic member I2 is adjustably moved longitudinally causing thespace between the pedestals 2223 .to be increased more or less, and inthis manner skeletal traction to a definite degree is applied to theinjured member.

After the bone fragments of the injured leg have been adjusted and heldlocked in relative position by the skeletal wires, and while traction ismaintained by the apparatus, a plaster cast is applied to the injuredleg as in the ordinary practice, the extending ends of the wires beingincorporated in the cast. In this manner is attained accurate mechanicalcontrol of both the proximal and the distal bone fragments. Whenpermissible, by loosening the screws v35 the injured leg, while thusencased, together with the bows 31, areremoved bodily from the appliancefor subsequent treatment. When it is no longer necessary to maintain thewires 45 under tension, the bows 31 are removed by loosening the screws42-42 thereby permitting disconnection of the bows from the wires. Inthis manner the patient is relieved of their encumbrance.

The superframe 5 affords an auxiliary support for the pedal extremity ofthe injured leg when connected by a tape 46 suspended from the top ofthe superframe and attached in any suitable manner to thefoot of theinjured leg.

I claim:-

1. In apparatus of the class described, a baseframe, a suspensionappliance having brackets removably superimposed on said frame andprovided with an adjustable superfrarne and slings that are suspendedfrom said brackets, a nonrotatable beam disposed in said base-framehaving two members one of which is adjustable and 10 each swivel-head 14bows in adjusted positions, and means in connec- 10 tion with each bowfor securing a skeletal wire and applying tension thereto.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a baseframe, a suspensionappliance having brackets removably superimposed on said frame and prollvided with slings that are suspended from said 1 brackets, anon-rotatable beam disposed in said base-frame having two members one ofwhich is adjustable and provided with means for axial movement thereof,a pedestal on each member of said beam independently adjustable thereonrespecting each other, a swivel-head on each of said pedestalsadjustably secured thereon, each swivel-head having jaws spaced apart, askeletal wire-supporting bow disposed between the jaws 38 of eachswivel-head laterally movable therebetween and removable therefrom,means for securing said bows in adjusted positions, and means inconnection with each bow for securing a skeletal wire and applyingtension thereto.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a baseframe, a non-rotatablebeam disposed in said base-frame having two members one of which isadjustable and provided with means for axial movement thereof, apedestal on each member of 4 said beam independently adjustable thereonrespecting each other, a swivel-head on each of said pedestalsadjustably secured thereon, each swivel-head having jaws spaced apart, askeletal wire-supporting bow disposed between the jaws 5 of eachswivel-head laterally movable therebetween and removable therefrom,means for securing said bows in adjusted positions, and means inconnection with each bow for securing a skeletal wire and applyingtension thereto. .5

4. In apparatus of the class described, a baseframe, two pedestalssupported in the base-frame for independent longitudinal adjustmenttherein, means for adjustably moving longitudinally in said frame thesupport for one of said. pedestals, 6 a swivel-head on each of saidpedestals adjustably secured thereon, each swivel-head having jawsspaced apart and bearing lugs between the ends of its jaws, aclamping-plate between the jaws of each swivel-head operativelyassociated 6 with clamp-screws therefor, a skeletal wire-supporting bowdisposed between the jaws of each swivel-head on the bearing lugsthereof and secured in lateral positions of adjustment by thecorresponding plate when the screws therefor are tightened, and means inconnection with each bow for securing a skeletal wire and applyingtension thereto.

EARL E. LON GFELLOW.

